Kuwait Municipality says it has jurisdiction over ‘charitable refrigerators’
Acting Director General of Kuwait Municipality, Eng. Manal Al-Asfour, has clarified that the municipality does not issue licenses for refrigerators placed in certain areas of Kuwait, emphasizing that these types of refrigerators fall outside the municipality’s jurisdiction.
The statement came during a discussion with member Eng. Abdul Latif Al-Da’i regarding regulation of such refrigerators.
Al-Asfour explained that Ministerial Resolution No. 30/2021, which governs licensing and occupation of public roads, squares, sidewalks, and plazas, only addresses commercial activities, reports Al-Jarida daily.
Charitable refrigerators and food freezers, she noted, are not considered commercial activities and therefore are not covered under the municipality’s licensing framework.
The Acting Director General also stressed that the municipality does not coordinate with charitable organizations or donors concerning food containers or distribution mechanisms. Furthermore, these food containers are not subject to regular oversight by the municipality, the Food Authority, or any other regulatory body.
Al-Asfour pointed out that if complaints arise regarding the placement of refrigerators—such as obstruction of sidewalks or encroachment on public property—the Violations Removal Department in the relevant governorate handles them.
However, issues concerning the food itself fall outside the municipality’s authority, in accordance with Law No. 33 of 2016, which transferred jurisdiction over such matters.
The municipality does not maintain records on the number, location, or supervision of these charitable refrigerators. This lack of data underscores the limited regulatory role the municipality has concerning non-commercial food storage units in residential areas.
According to Al-Asfour, the municipality is primarily concerned with issuing refrigerator licenses for commercial uses, such as restaurants, cafes, and bakeries, and only after approval from the General Authority for Food and Nutrition, as outlined in Ministerial Resolution No. 30/2021.
She concluded by reiterating that existing regulations contain no provisions for licensing charitable refrigerators or food and beverage storage units in residential areas, reinforcing the municipality’s stance that these activities lie beyond its jurisdiction.
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